Head of English

Salary: MPS 1 (£32,916) - UPS 3 (£51,048) + TLR of between £10,174 to £17,216 + pension + Lift Schools benefits
Hours: Full time
Contract type: Permanent

A rare and exciting opportunity to lead our high performing English department.

Your new school
Lift Ryde, based on the Isle of Wight, is an 11 to 18 years secondary school and is part of Lift Schools, one of the largest MATs in the country. The school is set in spacious grounds and had a completely new state of the art building in 2017. All staff have access to a free on site gym with a range of fantastic equipment. Known as the "Garden Isle" because of its beautiful landscape, unspoilt beaches, rugged coastline and beautiful countryside; the Isle of Wight is a perfect place to raise a family. Judged as 'Good' by Ofsted in November 2022, Lift Ryde is a school that pupils feel proud to attend, with a calm and orderly environment. Staff are also proud to work at the school and recognise that leaders are considerate of their workload.

At Lift Ryde, we believe that English is not just about reading Shakespeare or writing essays. It's about developing core skills that are essential for life, education, and work. Rooted in exploration, discussion, and creativity, we provide a diverse and inclusive curriculum that encourages critical thinking, supports personal expression, and fosters a love of reading and writing.

Your new role
This is a rare and exciting opportunity to lead our English department into the next stage of its journey. We are incredibly proud of our English department, it's made up of 12 friendly and dedicated professionals who together have supported our pupils in obtaining results that are above the national average with our 6th Form A level provision being ranked in the top 25%. Reporting to an Assistant Principal, who is an English specialist, you will have access to bespoke mentoring and support, while also benefiting from the expertise of an English Network Lead as you continue to drive forward the Trust's vision.

What you'll need to succeed
You will be a qualified teacher of English with a proven track record of working successfully in a school environment. As Head of English you will not only be an excellent practitioner, but you will also be able to effectively lead, coach, and support others to be excellent teachers. You will set a clear and strategic vision for your department, design and deliver a curriculum that is stimulating and engaging for students, and implement department wide strategies to ensure all students enjoy and excel within the subject.

We offer you:
Comprehensive training: Access to some of the best developmental training to boost your career.
Generous benefits: From your pension plan to healthcare and financial support, we've got you covered.
Lifestyle perks: Enjoy discounted gym memberships, travel deals, and much more.

If you would like a confidential discussion before applying and/or a tour of the school please contact Jessica Billows, Recruitment Manager on

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive an overwhelming response. All candidates are advised to refer to the job description and person specification before making an application.
Lift Schools are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our pupils, and we expect all our people and volunteers to share this commitment. We adopt a fair and consistent recruitment process which is inline with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance. This includes online checks for shortlisted candidates. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check.

Lift Schools embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. Job share, part-time and flexible working opportunities will be considered.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and there is a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.